Visual Arts from Canada & Around the World

John Gibson’s lyrical balls

John Gibson’s clearly defined spheres and the contemporary tones of his work have made him a popular inclusion for design magazines (see this Architectural Digest item, for example) Above: Howard, oil on linen 60 x 60 in.

The Massachusetts-based artist is fascinated with the concept of representing 3-D objects on a 2-D canvas, and explores this in his still-life paintings of balls. Above: Anniversary, oil on panel, 30 x 30 in.

Perkins, oil on canvas, 54 x 52″

2nd Avenue and 4th Street, oil on panel 29 x 72 in

Williamsburg, oil on linen, 35 x 83 in

5 Staggered Dark & Light, oil on linen 59 x 97 in

Henshaw #3, watercolor on paper, 55 x 55 in

John Gibson, studio shot

John Gibson in his studio: “I’m always looking for this simultaneous rounding and flattening of form.”

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Some of these, if not all, are available commercially – the balls themselves, I mean. I sort of collect orbs (I got too make jokes aimed at me when I said I collected balls – I’ll never know why) and display them in bowls and I own one of those portrayed in painting 5. Had to share this on FB for those of my friends who know I have a “thing” for orbs and circles! 🙂

I seem to be in a whimsical mood, not unlike Ripley Trout, as I love the paintings… but the Lyrical Balls sounds so wonderfully wrong 😀 Could be a great rock band name! (Must be the one beer I’ve had today speaking…) Honestly though, the paintings are lovely, innocent and quirky, especially when taken as a series. Stimulating and relaxing (the colours and the composition) at the same time